Meaning & use
burqa
Last updated
UK/ˈbʊəkə/
US/ˈbʊrkə/
Meaning
nouncountable
A loose outer garment that covers the body and face, worn by some Muslim women.
Grammar: Countable; plural 'burqas'. Often used with 'wear' or 'in'.
Patterns
- wear a burqa
- in a burqa
She wore a blue burqa to the market.
The burqa covers the whole body, with a small mesh screen for the eyes.
In some countries, wearing a burqa in public is a matter of personal choice.
Word forms
| plural | burqas |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear a burqa
- Some women choose to wear a burqa for religious reasons.
- full burqa
- The full burqa leaves only the eyes visible.
- blue burqa
- The blue burqa is common in Afghanistan.
- ban the burqa
- Several countries have debated whether to ban the burqa in public places.
Synonyms and how they differ
- niqab
- A face veil that covers the lower face but leaves the eyes visible; less covering than a burqa.
- hijab
- A headscarf that covers the hair and neck but not the face; much less covering than a burqa.
- chador
- A large cloth worn by some Muslim women that covers the body but usually leaves the face uncovered.
Commonly confused: burqa or burka?
burqa vs burka
An alternative spelling of 'burqa'; both are accepted, but 'burqa' is more common in British English.
Practice
In which sentence is 'burqa' used correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Burqa' is a garment covering the body and face, so option 0 fits. The others describe unrelated items or wrong uses.
Make it your own
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